5 Health Boosting Benefits of Herbs

Did you know you can gain a lot from adding herbs to your diet?

Humans have been consuming herbs for thousands of years. Even ancient civilizations knew that adding aromatic plants and roots to their diet was good for them. That’s as true now as ever before.

The benefits of herbs are plentiful, and unlike other health tips or strategies, are very easy to add to your routine. In fact, you’re probably already getting some of them naturally.

One of the keys is to know which types of herbs offer which benefits. Here’s a breakdown of the most common health advantages you stand to gain.

1. Antioxidants

Many of the herbs we eat every day contain antioxidants. In fact, there are over 3,100 natural foods in the world that scientists have identified as being antioxidants.

Natural herbs like oregano, peppermint, cinnamon, allspice, sage, and rosemary are all examples.

Maybe you’ve heard the term before, but you’re still wondering what antioxidants are.

Antioxidants are chemicals that remove free radicals from the body. Free radicals are unstable cells that often turn cancerous or carry diseases around the body.

Antioxidants have a neutralizing effect on the free radicals, helping to balance them out or remove harmful compounds from your body. They’ve been shown to reduce many of the chronic diseases that kill Americans.

They’ve also been shown to slow down the effects of certain brain and immune system diseases. Suffice it to say, there are a lot of good reasons to get more antioxidants in your diet.

2. Anti-Inflammatory

More and more, scientists are finding that fighting inflammation is one of the keys to living a healthy life. Popular diets like keto, paleo, and the Mediterranean diet, for example, all consist of low-carb, anti-inflammatory food items that help ward off chronic inflammation.

And as it turns out, many herbs are anti-inflammatory as well. Turmeric, black tea, chili peppers, and black pepper all have powerful natural anti-inflammatory effects on your body.

By itself, inflammation is a natural process that your body uses to heal itself. When tissues are damaged or diseased, inflammation crops up in the area to help get fresh blood and enzymes to the area.

Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is a bad thing. When a person is sedentary and eats lots of processed foods, for example, inflammation can become like a “loop.” Your body is constantly trying to heal itself, taking away vital resources a healthy body would otherwise use for other things.

Herbs can help reduce inflammation naturally and start the healing process. As part of a healthy diet, this is one of the best benefits of herbs by far.

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3. Immune-Boosting

The COVID-19 pandemic has taught all of us the importance of maintaining a healthy immune system.

One of the advantages of herbs is that they’re loaded with immune-boosting properties. Garlic, ginseng, and reishi mushrooms are all examples of herbs that can help boost your health.

The immune system is complex. It consists of tons of different systems that ward off disease and keep you healthy. When it becomes compromised, you’re far more likely to develop diseases or simply just feel run down.

Natural herbs have powerful antimicrobial and antibiotic properties. This means they kill or slow the spread of microorganisms that can wear your body down or make tissues unhealthy.

Along with practicing other healthy habits, like exercising regularly and drinking plenty of water, natural herbs can be great for your immune health.

4. Digestive Health

If there’s one area of medicine and health that’s going to explode in the next few decades, it’s likely going to be digestive health. Your gut is home to billions (yes, billions) of tiny bacteria that help ward off infections and regulate your energy levels.

Believe it or not, our gut is also linked to our brain. Known as the gut-brain connection, the way we treat our stomachs could go a long way towards fighting off disease and living our best life.

Herbs like ginger, garlic, cinnamon, fennel, and peppermint have been used for ages to treat digestive health. In health, there’s not always a “quick” fix, but this is about as quick and easy as it gets.

5. Stress Relief

It’s staggering, but studies show 55 percent of Americans are stressed on a daily basis. Coping with a little stress is normal every now and then. But chronic stress can truly ruin our bodies and health if we let it.

Once again, herbs can come to the rescue. Valerian root, chamomile, and even CBD (which comes from natural sources) have all been shown to alleviate stress.

Everyone’s coping strategies for stress look different. In fact, one of the keys to managing stress and anxiety is to know your triggers and prepare for them. Herbs can be an effective strategy that contributes to lower levels of overall stress.

Reducing stress can have a profound effect on every area of your life. It can increase your performance at work, help you sleep better, give you more energy, and regulate your mood.

Benefits of Herbs for Your Health

The benefits of herbs for overall health and vitality can’t be understated enough. In today’s world, many people turn to medications to solve their problems. For some people, this is necessary—but for others, a natural supplement can be an awesome solution to try first.

Including more herbs in your diet can help give you antioxidants, reduce inflammation, boost your immune system, improve gut health, and relieve stress.

Unlike other health interventions, it’s very easy to start adding herbs to your diet. Simply do your research and start including them at meals!

For more tips on maintaining your health, check out our blog.